Context aware stopping for autonomous vehicles

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to context aware stopping of a vehicle without a driver. As an example, after a passenger has entered the vehicle, the vehicle is maneuvered by one or more processors in an autonomous driving mode towards a destination location along a route. The route is divided into two or more stages. A signal is received by the one or more processors. The signal indicates that the passenger is requesting that the vehicle stop or pull over. In response to the signal, the one or more processors determine a current stage of the route based on a current distance of the vehicle from a pickup location where the passenger entered the vehicle or a current distance of the vehicle from the destination location. The one or more processors then stop the vehicle in accordance with the determined current stage.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]Autonomous vehicles, such as vehicles that do not require a human driver, can be used to aid in the transport of passengers or items from one location to another. Such vehicles may operate in a fully autonomous mode where passengers may provide some initial input, such as a destination, and the vehicle maneuvers itself to that destination.[0002]With a typical taxi service, a passenger and vehicle (and / or driver) are assigned to one another, the vehicle stops to allow the passenger to enter, and once safely inside, the vehicle is maneuvered to a destination location, presumably selected by the passenger. Where there is a human driver, the passenger is able to communicate his or her desire to be dropped off at a particular location fairly easily based on the passenger's assessment of the environment of the vehicle. The driver is then able to make a judgment about whether it is safe to stop and let the passenger out. However, in the case of a vehicle without a driver, c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a system and method for stopping a vehicle without a driver in an autonomous driving mode. The system includes one or more processors that maneuver the vehicle in a parking lot where the passenger entered the vehicle and stop the vehicle at a current location when the passenger requests it. The system can also determine the current stage of the route and stop the vehicle accordingly. The technical effect of this patent is to provide a safer and more efficient method for stopping vehicles without a driver in autonomous driving mode.

Problems solved by technology

However, in the case of a vehicle without a driver, communicating the passenger's desire to be let out of the vehicle at a particular location (especially when it is not the destination location) is extremely complicated.

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